Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has advocated an amendment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in order to address the flaws in the legislation.

Governor Diri stated this when the new Commander of the Joint Military Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral Eugenio Ferreira, and other officers paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.

He also said the review would go a long way in tackling the ongoing crisis between oil companies and their host communities.

Describing the Act as a time bomb, the governor emphasised that since the country operates a federal system of government, it was an aberration for federal government to deal directly with oil producing communities while excluding the states and local governments.

Governor Diri said both state and local governments should be incorporated into the oil industry legislation  to enable them contribute towards ensuring peace and stability in the industry.

The state’s helmsman also called for collaboration between the oil producing states and relevant institutions to bring development closer to the people as one of the surest ways in tackling oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining activities.

Earlier, the new OPDS Commander, Rear Admiral Ferreira, said he was posted to the command in May this year.

He noted that the OPDS was established with a mandate to protect oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta and ensure a stable and peaceful environment for all.

While expressing gratitude to the state government for the support given to the command, Rear Admiral Ferreira said they had achieved eighty per cent success of attaining their mandate, which he attributed to the kinetic and non-kinetic approach of the military.

He commended Governor Diri for his support to the task force and pledged that the command would continue to cooperate and collaborate with the state government to ensure peace and security of the state.